Page 17 - Budget 2026

Sitharaman proposes Infra Risk Guarantee Fund to boost private investment

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitahraman on Sunday proposed to set up an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund to provide calibrated partial credit guarantees to lenders. Sitharaman in her Budget speech said during this past decade, the government has undertaken several initiatives for large-scale enhancement of public infrastructure, including through new financing instruments such as Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InVITs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and institutions like NIIF and NABFID. "To strengthen the confidence of private developers regarding risks during infrastructure development and construction phase, I propose to set up an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund to provide prudently calibrated partial credit guarantees to lenders," she said. Noting that cities are India's engines of growth, innovation, and opportunities, she said the government will now focus on Tier-II and Tier-III cities, and even temple-towns, which need modern infrastructure and basic ...

No allocation for Chabahar project in Budget amid US' sanctions on Iran

In a departure from the past, India has not allocated any funds for the Chabahar port project in its Union Budget, a move that came against the backdrop of Washington's fresh sanctions on Iran. In the last few years, India has been making an annual outlay of Rs 100 crore to the mega connectivity project in the Sistan-Balochistan province in Iran's southern coast. India is a major partner in development of the Chabahar port. In September last year, the US imposed crippling economic sanctions on Iran but had granted India a six-month exemption from the punitive measures on the Chabahar port project. The waiver will come to an end on April 26. Last month, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New India is engaged with the US on the issue related to the Chabahar port project. It is learnt that India was mulling various options relating to the project after Trump administration threatened a 25 per cent additional tariff on countries doing business with Tehran. T

Budget 2026 changes SGB tax rules, ends blanket capital gains exemption

When SGB capital gains will remain tax-free under new Budget rules

Budget 2026 brings tax relief, investment flexibility for overseas Indians

From lower TCS on foreign travel to easier equity access and property sale relief, Budget 2026 brings a clutch of changes for NRIs and overseas Indians

ITC, SBI Card, IEX: 20 of BSE 500 stocks hit 52-week lows post Budget 2026

ACC, IRCTC, IREDA, Akzo Nobel India, Emami, KPIT Technologies and Premier Energies also hit 52-week lows in the intraday trade on February 1

Budget 2026-27 places Odisha firmly at heart of India's growth story: BJP

The ruling BJP in Odisha on Sunday asserted that the Union Budget 2026-27 has placed the state firmly at the heart of India's growth story. "It reflects a clear and confident vision to transform Odisha into a strategic engine of eastern India's development," Odisha BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day. Biswal said the announcement of 20 new inland waterways, beginning with Odisha, will unlock immense potential for inland transport, trade, and the coastal economy, giving a decisive push to logistics efficiency and regional commerce. "The East Coast Freight Corridor in Odisha is a true game-changer. It will strengthen ports, boost MSMEs, create large-scale employment, and position Odisha as a critical logistics hub in the national supply chain," he asserted. The BJP leader said equally significant is the dedicated rare earth corridor, which will establish Odisha as a strategic centre for clean

Budget 2026 keeps infra at core, raises capital spending to ₹12.2 trillion

Union Budget 2026 scales up capital spending to ₹12.2 trillion, keeping infrastructure at the centre of growth while signalling continued commitment to fiscal consolidation

Budget 2026 relief: Lower TCS on foreign education, medical travel

Union Budgeet 2026: Lower TCS rates under LRS aim to ease upfront tax costs for overseas education, medical treatment and travel spending

Heritage Foods hails Budget as watershed moment for dairy, livestock sector

Heritage Foods Ltd Executive Director Brahmani Nara on Sunday welcomed the Union Budget 2026, describing it as a watershed moment for India's dairy and livestock sectors. Heritage Foods Ltd is promoted by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's family members. Nara said the budget reflects several strategic priorities highlighted in the company's pre-budget expectations and goes beyond numbers to focus on empowering dairy farmers, strengthening rural resilience, and promoting sustainable, inclusive growth. "The Union Budget 2026 marks a significant milestone for India's dairy and livestock sectors," she said in a press release. The scaling up of veterinary capacity through new colleges, hospitals, laboratories and para-vet networks directly addresses the severe shortage of veterinarians in the country, she said, adding that the move would help bridge the gap between existing and required veterinary strength. The expansion of veterinary infrastructure, along with enhanc

Totally lacklustre, fell woefully short of the hype: Congress on Budget

The Congress on Sunday said the Union Budget was "totally lacklustre" and fell woefully short of the hype that was generated around it. Congress general secretary, Communications, Jairam Ramesh said the budget speech given by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was also "non-transparent" as it gave no idea of the budgetary allocations for key programmes and schemes. "While the documents need to be studied in detail, it is clear after 90 minutes that Budget 2026/27 falls woefully short of the hype that was generated about it. It was totally lacklustre," Ramesh said in a post on X. "The speech was also non-transparent since it gave no idea whatsoever of budgetary allocations for key programmes and schemes," he said. In her speech, Sitharaman announced that the target for capex will be raised to Rs 12.2 lakh crore for FY27 from Rs 11.2 lakh crore earmarked for the current fiscal year. She also announced a slew of measures to boost infrastructure in the country, including in tie

Budget 2026 delivers well on prudence and focuses on future thrust areas

Union Budget 2026 stays focused on fiscal prudence, targets a 4.3% deficit, sustains ₹12.2 trillion capex, and backs rare earths, freight corridors, waterways and data centres, writes Madan Sabnavis

Budget 2026: Centre allocates ₹30 crore for Lokpal; ₹54.56 crore to CVC

Anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal has been given Rs 30 crore for the next fiscal to meet its establishment and construction-related expenditures, according to the Union Budget 2026-27 presented on Sunday. The revised budgetary outlay for Lokpal for the ongoing fiscal is Rs 32 crore, according to the Budget document. A provision of Rs 44.32 crore was made for it for the financial year (FY) 2025-26 in the last Budget. The Lokpal is the apex body to inquire into and investigate allegations of corruption against public functionaries, including the prime minister. Probity watchdog Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has been given Rs 54.56 crore for 2026-27. The provision is for secretariat expenditure of the Commission, the Budget document said. It had got Rs 52.07 crore for FY26, which has been revised to Rs 50.66 crore for the current financial year. The CVC is an apex governmental body responsible for promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in the country's public ...

Budget 2026-27: Govt sets up panel to study AI impact on services sector

Union Budget 2026: The Centre plans a high-powered panel to assess how AI is changing services, employment and skills, while aiming to raise India's global share in services to 10% by 2047

Budget 2026 offers six-month window to disclose overseas income and assets

Missed declaring foreign income or assets? Budget 2026 offers a second chance

Budget 2026: Govt raises infra spending by 8.8% to record ₹12.2 trillion

India has significantly raised infrastructure spending after the Covid-19 pandemic, aiming to boost economic growth and create more jobs in the world's most populous country

Derivatives trading to get costlier: STT on options premium raised to 0.15%

Budget 2026 raises STT on options and futures to curb speculation

Budget 2026: What the sodium antimonate duty cut means for the solar sector

Union Budget 2026 removes basic customs duty on sodium antimonate, a specialised chemical used in photovoltaic glass, offering cost relief and competitiveness gains for solar glass manufactures

Budget 2026: Govt allocates ₹600 crore for three dedicated chemical parks

For the first time, the Union Budget provides a dedicated allocation for chemical parks, with ₹600 crore earmarked in the Budget Estimates for 2026-27

Decoded: Share buybacks to be taxed as capital gains under Budget 2026

In a big relief to minority shareholders, now buyback of shares will again be taxed as capital gains tax and hence long term shares tendered in buyback will be taxed only at 12.5% as against the norma

Budget 2026: Biopharma to medical tourism, push for healthcare value chain

Union Budget 2026 proposes measures across biopharma manufacturing, medical education, research, affordable drugs, AYUSH and medical tourism, signalling a deeper healthcare strategy